Edge rolling method and apparatus



. EDGE ROLLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1937. J. w; SHEPERDSON 2,090,706

EDGE ROLLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1936 4 sheets-'sheet 2 I l III| |l lIllu Illllllp u? |I Aug. 24, 1937.

J. W. .SHEPEARDSON EDGE lROLLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 22. 1936 I N VEN 'TOR JOHN IM .SHEPERD $0151` ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1937. J. w. sHEPERDsoN 2,090,706

EDGE ROLLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 193e 4 sheets-sheet 4 77 8 -yf Fig 9 19:10

l/II

i JOHN 1M SHEPERDSON BVM /3 /s Aviv-ORNE?- v Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE EDGE ROLLING METHOD AND APPARATUS John W. Shepcrdson, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Morgan Construction Company, Worceste Mass., a, corporation of Massachusetts A Application January 22, 1936, Serial No. 60,294 l 19 Claims.

This invention relates to metal rolling, and more particularly to the rolling of skelp, sheet bar, and similar at rolled products..

In the rolling of flat strips of material it is customary to use *edging rolls to control the width of the strip and to provide the desired shape for the edges. prevent cr limit the lateral spreading of the material, and in other cases they may serve to effect a substantial reduction in the width of the strip.

Considerable difficulty has been encountered heretofore in the operation of these edging rolls.

Because of the high ratio between the width of' l5 the strip and its thickness, the strip will buckle unless the compressive force applied thereto by the edging rolls is co-mparatively low. In some cases it is not possible to apply sufficient pressure to effect any appreciable reduction without buck- 20 ling. Attempts have been made to overcome the trouble by providing very deep narrow grooves in the rolls. However, these grooves are very diicult and expensive to machine,l and they must be of different widths to correspond with various .3 thicknesses of stock. Furthermore, as the bottoms of the grooves become worn and they are dressed to present a true surface, the effective diameter will be decreased, necessitating an adjustment of the speed of rotation in order to 33 maintain the required peripheral speed. In addition, the grooves must be ared in order to ensure proper entering of` the stock, and as a result the central portion of the stock between the rolls, being unsupported, will buckle to one 35 side or the other under the rolling pressure.

' It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide an improved method of rolling material having a width greater than its thickness, whereby adequate rolling pressures may be applied to 40 tbe edges of the material without causing buckling thereof.

Itl is a further object of the invention to provide an improved method of rolling the edges of material having a width greater than its thick- 45 ness, which canl be practiced successfully without requiring'deep and narrow grooves in the edging rolls.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive and reliable 50 apparatus for rolling the edges of material having a width grear than its thickness and preventing transverse buckling thereof,

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction of roll for edging 55 mi11s,.which requires no deep narrow vgrooves and In some cases the edging rolls merely' which is adapted for use thicknesses.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction of roll, which can be dressed after it becomes worn without varying the eiective diameter of the roll.

With these and other objects in4 view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art', the invention'resides in the combination of parts and the steps of the process set forth in the specification and covered by'the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a rolling apwith stock of diierent paratus, the section being taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view. taken on .the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig.,7 is an elevation of a modified construe.- tion;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of apparatus, the section being taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 8;

' Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a modied form of apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of a further modification, the section being taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14v is a view showing the buckling of stock by edging rolls of a type heretofore used.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 there is provided a pair of horizontal rolls Ill which serve to reduce the thickness of a at strip of material I I as it travels in the direction indicated by the arrow. These rolls I0 are mounted in the usual housing I2, and they may be driven by any suitable meris. It will be understood that these rolls preferably operate' only on the at sides of the strip I I.

In order tomaintain the desired width for the strip and to ensure smooth and properly shaped edges, it is customary to use edging rolls. However, great difficulty has been experienced due to the fact that the strip'tends to buckle transversely if any appreciable rolling pressure is applied to its edges. This transverse buckling of the stock is illustrated in Fig. 14, which shows a pair of edging rolls I3'of a conventional type. As indicated by the dotted lines in this iigure, the buckling may take place in either direction, and 5 it prevents any accuratecontrol of the width of the rolled strip. This difficulty is overcome by the present invention.

As one step in my improved method, I bend the strip I I transversely through a small angleinaprel determined direction, preferably into an arc. This can be accomplished byvariousmeans. For example, it will be apparent that the bending could be effected in a reducing pass by means of suitably shaped rolls, but this would have the disadvantage 'l5 of making these rolls expensive and diflicult to machine. In the construction illustrated there is provided a pair of horizontal bending rolls I4 and I5, the upper roll I4 being arranged to Contact with the upper surface of the strip II at the 20 center, and the lower roll I5 being arranged to contact with the lower surface of the strip near the edges, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. If desired, the, central portion of the lower roll I5 may be cut away or recessed to avoid contact with 25 the stock. These rolls I4 and I5 are rotatably supported in suitable brackets I6 mounted on the the rolls I4 and I5 will bend the stock II transversely into an arc with the convex side thereof at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 5, the arc preferably extending across substantially the entire width of the stock. This arc'is preferably but not necessarily a circular arc.

Following the above described bending opera- 40 tion, rolling pressure is applied to the edges of the stock from opposite directions, and in order to prevent this pressure from buckling the stock the convex side thereof is supported. Various means for furnishing this support will beappar- 45 ent to those skilled in the art, but I preferably utilize a pair of spaced rolls which are so shaped that they will not only roll the edges of the stock but will also support the convex side of the stock during the rolling operation. 'I'hese rolls are 59 preferably so constructed that the worn portions thereof may be dressed easily and cheaply, and without changing the effective diameter.

As shown particularly in Fig. 1, there is provided a pair of spaced vertical rolls `2I between 55 which the stock passes after the bending operation. Each roll 2I is mounted on a. vertical spindle 22 provided with an outwardly projecting flange 23 forming a shoulder. An annular member 25 is arranged to contactwith the upper sur- 60 face of the iiange 23, and this member is provided with a slightly concaved upper surface 26 which contacts with the convex lower surface ofv the stock I I to support the same. The annular member 25 is provided with a frusto-conical opening 65 or socket 21 into which there is fitted a conical member 29 which engages the edges of thi. stock II. This member 29 is bored centrally to nt the spindle 22, and the various parts are fastened together by a washer 30 and a nut 3| screw- 70 threaded to the upper end of the spindle. When the parts are assembled, the member 25 forms a flange on the. roll.

It will now be apparent that the actual rolling pressure on the edges of the stock will be prowded 75 by the conical portions 29 of the rolls. and that most of the wear will be on these portions. It is a comparatively simple matter to disassemble the rolls and to dress oi the conical surfaces of these members 29. After this dressing operation the rolls can be reassembled, and the conical portions 29 will be somewhat lower than they were' before. However, the effective diameter of the rolls, where they engage the strip, will remain exactly the same as it was originally, and no change in the roll speed will be required.

In case the strip II is to be used for skelp, it may be desirable to form beveled edges thereon. This can readily be accomplished by making the conical angle of the rolls of sufficient size. As

indicated particularly in Fig. 4, the conical sur-l faces of the portions 29, if projected upwardly, will intersect at a point considerably below the center of curvature of the strip. As a result, the edges of the strip will be beveled.

Means is preferably provided to adjust the distance between the centers of the spindles 22. For this purpose the spindles are supported beneath the rolls by anti-friction bearings 33 in separate housings 34 and 35. These housings are slidably supported by a fixed hollow rectangular frame 31 carried by a suitable foundation 38. A yoke 39 surrounds the housings to hold them in correct relative positions laterally against the rolling pressure, and this yoke is provided with a manually rotatable horizontal screw 40 which contacts with the housing 35. A bearing 42 is fastened to the I frame 31 to support a manually rotatable horizontal screw 43 provided with collars 44 at each side of the bearing. 'I'his screw 43 passes through a nut 45 fastened to the housing 34. It will be apparent that by properly manipulating the screws 40 and 43, the housings 34 and 35 can be moved along the frame 31 to any desired positions, and spaced in a desired manner to accommodate rolls of varying diameters and stock of varying widths. v

In order to drive the spindles 22, bevel gears 41 are mounted on their lower ends, and these gears mesh with bevel `gears 48. The gears 48 may be driven by any suitable means.

After the strip II has passed between the edging rolls 2|, it will usually be desirable to pass it through additional flatting rolls.

For this purpose there is shown in Fig. 2 a pair of horizontal iiatting rolls 56 mounted in a suitable housing 51. It will be apparent that the rolls 56 could be arranged to receive the stock directly from the edging rolls, and that these rolls 56 would in'that case both flatten the stock and reduce its thickness. In some cases however it may be desirable to form a loop 58 in the stock between the edging rolls and the rolls 56 in order to prevent tension in the stock. 'I'here is a .possibility that under certain circumstances the stock might buckle if it entered such a loop while still bent transversely, and in order to prevent such a possibility I have shown a pair of horizontal' rolls 60 located close to the delivery side of the edging rolls. 'I'he rolls 60 are mounted in a suitable housing 6|,.and they are connected by gears 62 'and driven by an electric motor 63. These rolls flatten the stock before it enters the loop 58.-

In the practice of my invention, it is by no means essential to utilize yvertical edging rolls, and in some cases it may be preferable to utilize horizontal rolls.' In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a pair of horizontal edging rolls 65 each of which is provided with a series of passes of varying depths to accommodate stock of dierent widths. It

Cil

will be noted that each pass is formed with a concave surface 88 to support the convex side of the stock and with aconical surface 61 to apply rolling pressure to the edge of the stock. 'Ihese rolls 85 may be supported and driven by any suitablemeans, and suitable provision may be made for bending the stock transversely before it enters the roll pass.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. The strip after leaving the flatting rolls i passes between the rolls I4 and |5,'which bend it transversely into an arc. Since these bending rolls dol not reduce the cross-sectional area of the stock, they will require very little power and they will be subjected to very little wear.l The transversely bent stock now passes between the edging rolls 2| which apply rolling pressure to the edge of the stock. This pressure of course tends to bend the stock still further, but such further bending is prevented by engagement of the concave surfaces 26 of the rolls with the convex surface of the stock. Consequently it is possible to produce a considerable reduction in the width of the stock without danger of buckling the same. Furthermore, beveled edges Amay be formed on the stock if desired After leaving the edging rolls the stock is attened by passing between the rolls 60 and then enters between the rolls 56 for further reduction in thickness. If the edging rolls are arranged, horizontally, as shown in Fig. 7; the operation will be the same, except that the stock will be delivered to these rolls with one edge at the top and the other at the bottom. By using edging rolls of the type shown in Fig. 1, it is possible to dress the rolls very easily and cheaply, and without changing the effective diameter. If the rolls are made solid, as shown in Fig. 7, dressing will affect the diameter. However, the passes in these rolls are comparatively open and much more accessible for dressing than in prior edging rolls. It will be noted that either of the illustrated types of edging roll will accommodate varying thicknesses of stock without change.`

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I have shown a modied form of apparatus. In this embodiment the stock is bent transversely by a suitable shaped guide prior to the edge rolling operation, and after leaving the edging rolls it passes through a further guide which ilattens the stock. At the dclivery side of the horizontal rolls i8 there is provided a guide box 18 in which are mounted a lower guide plate 1I and an upper guide plate 12.

These plates 1| and 12 are held in place by a wedge 13 which is inserted between the top of the upper plate 12 and a transverse bar 14 thereabove, this bar being supported by the sides of the guide box 10. As shown particularly in Fig. 9, the upper guide plate 12 is shaped to force the central portion of the stock downwardly,`and the lower guide plate 1| is shaped to force the marginal portions of the stock upwardly, thus producing the desired transverse bending of .the stock before is passes between the edging rolls 2|. At

- the delivery side of the edging rolls there is pro.-

vided a guide box 16 in which are mounted a lower guide plate 11 and an upper guide plate 18.h These plates 11 and 18 are held in place by a wedge 80 which is inserted between the top of the upper guide plate 18 and a transverse bar 8| thereabove, this barl being supported by the sides of the guide box 18. As shown particularly in Fig. 10, the lower guide plate 11 is shaped to force the central portion of the stock upwardly, and the upper guide plate 18 is shaped to force the marginal portions of the stock downwardly, thus ilattening the stock transversely beforeit enters the loop 58. Y

. In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a construction which it may be desirable to utilize in some cases,

Y particularly if the stock is comparatively wide.

lower surface of the stock. In-operation the stock will slide over the surface 8|, which will support `the stock and prevent it from buckling under the lateral pressure 'imposed by the edging rolls.

It will now be clear to those skilled-in the art that only a very slight degree of transverse bending of the material is required before it is engaged by the edging rolls. If the material'is even slightly bent in the proper direction, the pressure applied to the edges thereof will force the material to bend still further until its convex side is brought into contact with the supporting surfaces. In so-me cases the flanges 25 may serve not only as a means for supporting the convex side of the material but also as aI means for effecting the transverse bending thereof. As shown particularly in Figs. 12 and 13, the material may approach the edging rolls 2| while perfectly fiat and in such a. position with respect to the roll pass that the corners at the front end of the advancing material will engage the convcave surfacesv 26 in advance of the conical surfaces ofthe members 28. The concave surfaces 26 will deflect these corners upwardly and thus. produce a slight transverse bending of the material. As soon as the edges of the material are gripped between the conical members 29, the material will be bent still more in the same direction by the lateral pressure until further bending is prevented by engagement of the convex surface of the material with the surfaces 26. As shown in Fig. 12, a guide of usual and ordinary construction may be provided between the horizontal rolls Il and the edging rolls 2|. This guide comprises a guide box 86 in whichare mounted a lower guide plate 81 and an upper guide plate 88. A transverse bar Bills supported by the side walls of the box 86 above theupper plate 88, and. a tension spring 9| connects the upper plate 88 with a transverse rod 92 carried by the housing i2. It will be understood that the stock passes between the plates 81 and 88, and that these pates simply guide the stock to the edging rolls steps of bending the material transverselythrough a small angle in a predetermined direction, supportingth'e convex side of the'material, and applying rolling pressure to the edges of the material from opposite directions while the convex side thereof is supported.

2. 'Ihe method of rolling material having a width greater than its thickness comprising the steps of moving the material longitudinally, bending the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, supporting the convex side of the material, and applying rolling pressure to the edges of the material from 5 opposite directions while the convex side thereof v-is supported.

3. The method of rolling material having a width greater than its thickness comprising the steps of bending the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, supporting the convex side of the material while leaving the concave side thereof unsupported, and applying rolling pressure to the edges of the material from opposite directions while the l5 convex side thereof is supported.

4. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness comprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, means to support the convex side of the material, and means to apply rolling pressure to the edges of the material from opposite directions while the convex side thereof is supported.

5. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness com- 'prising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, means to support the convex side of the material, and a pair of spaced rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions while the convex side thereof is supported.

6. Rolling apparatus for producing material having arwidth greater than its thickness comprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a. predetermined direction, a pair of spaced rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions, and means on said rolls to support the convex side of the material.

7. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness comprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, and a pair of spaced rolls each having a pass therein which engages one edge and the convex side of the material.

8. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness comprising a pair of spaced rolls having surfaces to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions and concave surfaces which support. one side only of the material while it is being reduced in width.

9. Rolling apparatus for use with elongated strips of material having a width `greater than its thickness comprising a pair of spaced rolls rotatable about substantially parallel axes and each having a groove therein, one side of each groove having a conical surface to engage one edge of the strip and the other side having a concave surface which intersects the conical surface and supports one side only of the material while it is being reduced in width.

10. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness comprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, means to support the convex side of the material, and a pair of spaced rolls having conical surfaces to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite di- 5 rections, the conical angle being of sufficient *size to result in the formation of beveled edges on the material.

, 11. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness comprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, a pair of spaced conical rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions, and an annular flange surrounding each roll and separable therefrom, each flange having a concave surface for contact with the convex side of the material.

12. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness oomprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, a pair of spaced rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions, and a stationary block having a concave surface arranged to contact with the convex surface of the material while the edges thereof are being rolled.

13. Rolling apparatus for producing material having a width greater than its thickness comprising means to bend the material transversely through a small angle in a predetermined direction, means providing a concave surface to support the convex side of the material, and a pair of spaced rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions while the convex side thereof is supported.

14. Edge rolling apparatus for use vwith elongated material having a width greater than its thickness which has been previously bent transversely through a small angle comprising means providing a concave surface to support the convex side of the material, and a pair of spaced rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges ofthe material from opposite directions while the convex side thereof is supported.

15. Edge rolling apparatus for use with elon-V gated material having a width greater than its thickness which has been previously bent transversely through a small angle comprising a pair of spaced rolls to apply, rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions, and means on said rolls providingy concave surfaces to support the convex side of the material.

16. Edge rolling apparatus for use with elongated material having a width greater than its `thickness which has been previously bent transversely through a small angle comprising means to support the convex side of the material, and a pair of spaced rolls having conical surfaces to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions,

the conical angle being of sufficient size to result' in the formation of beveled edges on the material.

17. Edge rolling apparatus for use with elongated material having a width greater than its thickness which has been previously bent transversely through a small angle comprising a pair of spacedv conical rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opposite directions, and an annular flange surrounding each roll and separable therefrom, each flange having a concave surface for contact with lthe convex side of the material.

18. Edge rolling apparatus for use with elongated material having a width greater than its thickness which has been previously bent transversely through a small angle. comprising a pair of spaced rolls to apply rolling pressure respectively to the two edges of the material from opsocket, and means to fasten the members toposite directions, and a stationary block having gether, the conical surface extending outside of a concave surface arranged to contact with the the socket without change in shape to form one convex surface of the material while the edges side of a circumferential grooved pass, the first thereof are being rolled. l mentioned member forming the other side of 5 19. A roll for use in rolling metal comprising a said pass. member having a frusto-conical socket, a second JOHN W. SI-IEPERDSON.` member having a conical surface fitting in the v 

